Senator Susan Collins' Supreme Court Vote on Kavanaugh Shadows Re-election Campaign in Maine
Maine Senator Susan Collins' 2018 vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court is a central issue in her current re-election campaign. Kavanaugh later joined the conservative majority that overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, a decision that has angered many voters, including some who previously supported Collins. Despite calling herself a 'pro-choice' Republican and co-sponsoring legislation for federal abortion protections, Collins has stated she does not regret her vote for Kavanaugh. Her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, is actively campaigning on this issue, highlighting Collins' role in Kavanaugh's confirmation and securing endorsements from abortion rights groups like Planned Parenthood and Reproductive Freedom for All. However, a New York Times/Siena poll indicates that abortion is not the top issue for most Maine voters, who are more concerned with the economy.